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Mh LD is not in best form, so LHI has a little chance, but i think they should put LYD/KSH in the first MD and Kim/Kim in the second. I think they have a better chance... Anyway I hope for a suprise or at least a close affair like 3-2... Let´s start with a LHI win, that would be fantastic, just no 3-0 please ;D

China is likely beating Korea 3:0 unfortunately. But, the chinese team needs to respect Korea team fully and deal each games seriously. Korea team is very good and can dethrone the chinese team if the chinese team doesn't play at their normal level. If LHI can beat LD Korea may have a chance but I think this is highly unlikely. LD will take this games very seriously to boost his confidence prior to Olympics game. he won't let LHI gain any psychological advantage before Olympics.

I do not think LD's form is on a dip. In fact, I think he is just coming along nicely, fine tuning to optimize his form to run parallel to the finals.

A true thinking player has to optimize obtaining points not only from attacking, but also turning defensive into attacking. If you watched yesterday's match with Sho Sasaki, a lot of his crosscourt defensive counter-attack to Sasaki's crosscourt smashes caught Sasaki having to run the longer distance to the front court to retrieve LD's answer to his smashes. Very tiring indeed. Point to note here is that after firing your smash and your body momentum is not already in a forward motion, you will be in trouble. So it really depends on how you execute the smash. LD does not always execute a full force-all out-smash. Most of it are just enough to catch you off guard with the right angle and steepness.

Not only is LD's smashes stinging, in fact I have noticed his backhand is just as lethal now. Some of it are his sudden backhand interception from the highest point and it comes back as a fast drop.

LD's key speed lies in his legs a lot too. For example, his keen sense of knowing when you will lift to the baseline is as fine-tuned as the smell of a fish to a cat. He found ways to force a lift from Sasaki (even though the lift is not very high) and he instantly jumps to the base court like a V12 engine. It's just so fast. Sasaki is a fast moving player too. Before Sasaki goes back to the middle court station, the shuttle is already on the floor. That is how fast LD is.

So LHI :-

1. Do not simply smash cross court if you can't cover the distance to the fore court after you smash because LD's return is lighting fast.

2. After you have played a front net shot, don't instantly go backwards, otherwise you will be shocked by LD's sudden repeat netting at the same time you are moving backwards, as Sasaki was caught many times.

3. LD taunts you with lobs to entice you to smash him. Make sure you are confident of a good angle before you take the bait. He is waiting for you.

4. Last but not least, LD's crosscourt net is the best. Has always been. Even LCW is a victim. Once he executed the crosscourt net, you have to stretch your legs to retrieve it. If you lift, bang! it comes back fast. If you put it back to the net, he pounces on you if the netting is just a little high. If your netting is tight, it will come back as a fast push to the base of your court. So you see, it is like CHECKMATE.

It will very very hard for Korea in front of CHN home fans. This will be like Beijing Olympics final or Asian games 2010 final. Even if KOR is well prepared, many things will go against them. Don't be surprised if LHI, SWH, LYD/KSR don't get more than 10 points each set.

This is what happens if you have major badminton event in CHN these days. We could see the same thing if major badminton event was held in Istora Senayan Stadium INA 10-20 years ago. Not anymore.

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